Union
College is moving ahead with plans
to create an independent graduate school to offer programs currently under Union's
Center for Graduate Education and Special Programs, it
was announced by Union President Roger Hull at an October 21 meeting of the Union
faculty.
The new school would offer
graduate programs in educational studies, engineering (computer systems,
electrical, and mechanical), computer science, business administration, health
administration and bioethics.
“An independent graduate school would
preserve our vital master's degree programs,” Hull
said. “It would also allow for the expansion of those programs through targeted
marketing, fundraising, and recruitment to meet the growing regional demand for
full- and part-time graduate study. At the same time, this move would clarify
and strengthen Union's reputation as a
nationally-recognized leader in undergraduate liberal arts and engineering
education.”
Union
College's graduate programs are now
administered by the Center for Graduate Education and Special Programs, which
would be re-formed to become the graduate school. Union
College officials are working with
the State Education Department and various accrediting bodies to ensure a
seamless transition. The graduate school, with its own board of trustees, could
be chartered by the State Board of Regents in the next nine months to a year.
The new school has not been named.
“This is an important and exciting
time for our students, our faculty and our graduates,” said Sue Lehrman, dean
of Union's Center for Graduate Education and Special
Programs. “We have seen recent growth in our programs, and this change will
only increase the value of a Union graduate degree. The establishment of an
independent graduate school would also help us to further strengthen and expand
the partnerships with businesses and other organizations that have been so
important to the success of our programs.”
The graduate school would have a
unique academic relationship with Union
College through a lease arrangement
in which faculty and students would continue to have access to all Union
College facilities and ancillary
services. The program offices would remain in Lamont House on the Union
College campus, with classes and
labs at Union.
The graduate school would petition
to be affiliated with Union University,
a federation of independent undergraduate and graduate institutions. It
currently consists of Union College,
Albany Medical
College, Albany
Law School,
Dudley Observatory and Albany College of Pharmacy. Established in 1873, Union
University has a board of governors
made up of representatives of the member institutions' boards of trustees. The
president of Union College serves as the chancellor of Union University.